Police: Woman admits making false rape claims

A Venetia woman was charged with numerous offenses, including perjury, after she allegedly admitted accusations she made of rape and sexual assault against a Canonsburg man never happened.

Katelyn Webster, 18, of 189 Irishtown Road Extension, was charged March 11 by Allegheny County police with one count each of perjury, false reports to law enforcement and false swearing for an incident she told county police occurred June 3 at South Park in Bethel Park.

Webster, police said, accused Matthew Folino, 27, of 118 Sunset Drive, Canonsburg, of raping her in a car in the parking lot of the wave pool. As a result of Webster’s accusations, Folino was charged with rape, sexual assault, simple assault and two counts of indecent assault. Those charges have since been dropped.

Initially, the charges against Folino were held for court following a preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Wyda of Bethel Park on Aug. 6, during which Webster testified to the alleged event.

Folino’s criminal trial was set for March 20 in Allegheny County. But before the trial, two female witnesses came forward saying Webster asked them to say they were with her at the wave pool June 3. Both witnesses said they had been with Webster June 2 and 3, but the three were never at the wave pool.

On March 6, police say, Webster admitted that she had made a false report against Folino.